Machine for the manufacture of cords and ropes

ABSTRACT

A machine for the manufacture of cords and ropes, comprises motor-driven roving cylinders, strand clamps for said cylinders, a strand conveyor with strand feeders for feeding said cylinders, a travelling guide trolley having means for feeding strands drawn out from said roving cylinders in lengthwise loops and combining them with a rotating laying device of a laying trolley which is continuously under the effect of a tension device said tension device being adapted to be drawn forward during the laying process by the entry of the strands or cords up to adjustable stops which determine the hardness of the strand or cord, whereby the cord can be manufactured entirely automatically with simultaneous determination of hardness and length.

United States Patent [1 1 Ullmann Aug; 27, 1974 OTHER PUBLICATIONS German Printed Application, Reiche, Apr. 6, 1955 Ser. No. 1,054,352.

Primary ExaminerDonald E. Watkins Attorney, Agent, or FirmMarkva & Smith ABSTRACT A machine for the manufacture of cords and ropes, comprises motor-driven roving cylinders, strand clamps for said cylinders, a strand conveyor with strand feeders for feeding said cylinders, a travelling guide trolley having means for feeding strands drawn out from said roving cylinders in lengthwise loops and combining them with a rotating laying device of a laying trolley which is continuously under the effect of a tension device said tension device being adapted to be drawn forward during the laying process by the entry of the strands or cords up to adjustable stops which determine the hardness of the strand or cord, whereby the cord can be manufactured entirely automatically with simultaneous determination of hardness and MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CORDS AND ROPES In earlier manufacturing methods of manufacturing cords and ropes, the strands had to be pulled by hand from the roving spindles to the laying hook and hand fixed, where the laying hook was actuated by means of a device fitted with a hand crank. At least one person was necessary for operating the earlier machine.

The present invention now relates to a machine for manufacturing cords and ropes.

The machine according to the invention is distinguished by having motor-driven roving cylinders with strand clamps, for feeding which a strand conveyor with strand feeders and a strand cutter are provided, where a travelling guide trolley is furnished with means for feeding the strands drawn lengthwise in loops out of the roving cylinders and combining them with a rotating laying of a laying trolley which is continuously under the pull of a tension device, which latter can be drawn forward during the laying process by the entry of the strands or cords up to adjustable stops which determine the hardness of the strand or cord, the whole such that cord can be manufactured entirely automatically with simultaneous determination of hardness and length.

A typical arrangement of the object of the invention is shown in the drawings, as follows:

FIG. 1 a partial overhead view of the machine, shortened in length, during drawing out of the strands in lengthwise loops of the direction of the laying hook.

FIG. 2 a partial view of a roving cylinder to larger scale on line Il-II in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 a horizontal section through part of the two first roving cylinders, during drawing out of the strands.

FIG. 4 a horizontal section through part of the two second roving cylinders during drawing out of the strands.

FIG. 5 an elevation of the machine on line V-V in FIG. 1 before loading the roving cylinders.

FIG. 6 a partial elevation of the machine on line V-V in FIG. 1, during loading the roving cylinders.

FIG. 7 a side elevation of an end of the machine showing the roving cylinders.

FIG. 8 a side elevation of the laying hook in the open position the hook being driven by a motor, and

FIG. 9 the laying hooks in the closed position during arrival of the strand drawing-out and guide device.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show the machine with two pairs of roving cylinders 3, 4 and 3, 4', driven by motor 1 through gearing 2 and which are provided with receiving eyes for the strands 7, 8, and for holding tight the strands against end closing pieces 6' of the clamping pistons 6 actuating the roving cylinders. 9 is a hydraulic or pneumatically operated strand conveyor, whose cylinder-piston assembly 10 is fixed to a carrier 11 and whose piston rod forms the slide of the strand conveyor together with a support 13 on its outer end. Supportl3 carries two strand feed tubes 14, 15, which are pushed through during the advance of the slides 12, 13 by the eyes 5 of roving cylinders 3, 4 and 3' 4'. l6, 17 are strand reels on bearings on two bearing bars 18, from which the strand conveyor draws strands 7, 8. These run over rollers 20 carried on hearings on arms 19 of carrier 11 into the feed tubes l4, 15. 21 is a strand cutting shears arranged between the ends of feed tubes 14,

l5 and the first pair of roving cylinders 3, 4, and whose shear lever 21' can be actuated by a pneumatic cylinder assembly 22. 23 are rails running in the longitudinal direction of the machine, on which on the one hand a guide trolley 24 (FIG. 1) and on the other a laying trolley 25 run. The guide trolley carries a strand drawingout and guide device 27 on a bracket 26 projecting downwards, the device being fork-shaped in plan, and each leg of the fork carrying a strand grip 28, 29 with the legs of the grips projecting outwards upwards and downwards in a slanting direction. In the initial position of guide trolley 24, FIG. 7, the strand drawing-out and guide device is in the position ready to catch the two strand ends 7', 8 stretched between the roving cylinder pairs 3, 4 and 3', 4, FIG. 5. The guide trolley 24 carrying the strand drawing-out and guide device 27 is connected by means of clamp 31 to the underside 30' (FIG. 7) of an endless driving chain. The endless chain 30 runs on the one hand over a driving chain-wheel 32, to which a vee-belt pulley 35 is keyed on shaft 34 mounted in bearings on bracket 33, and which can be driven through vee-belt 36 and vee-belt pulley of driving motor 38. On the other hand, the endless chain runs over a chainwheel at the other end of the machine, not shown. The laying trolley 25 is pulled in the direction of the arrow by a rope 39 guided over rollers. An electric motor 41 is arranged on bracket 40 of the laying trolley, the motor shaft 42 carrying laying hook 44, which is rotatable on spindle 43 and can be automatically actuated, and whose closing lever 44 can be forced into the closed or open position by striking against a fixed stop 45. The laying hook 44 operates in conjunction with two closing tongues 46, when it passes through eyes 46 of the tongue ends, by which a secure take-over of the two strand loops 7, 8 from the strand drawing-out and guide device is ensured. A receiving basket 47 is arranged along the machine on the fioor, into which the finished cords or ropes fall on simultaneous opening of the laying hook 44 and the clamping devices 6 of the roving spindles 3, 4 and 3, 4.

Only one person is necessary for operating and superintending the machine, as the process is entirely automatic. According to this, the two strands 7, 8 as in FIGS. 1 and 5 are pulled by strand conveyor 9 from reels l6, l7. Strands 7, 8 are then guided through eyes 5 by means of guide tubes l4, 15, from which the strand ends 7", 8" project, when the clamping pistons 6 of roving cylinders 3, 4 and 3', 4 are open. When the feed tubes l4, l5 begin to return, the strand ends projecting from them are clamped by closure of clamping pistons 6 of the second cylinder pairs 3', 4', when strands 7, Scan be correspondingly drawn out from the feed tubes which are returning to their initial position,

since clamping pistons 6 of the first pair of roving cylinders 3, 4 remain open.

Guide trolley 24 is moved in the direction towards laying trolley 25 by switching in motor 38, when the strands 7, 8 are caught and drawn out by grips 28 and 29 of the strand drawing-out and guide device in the range between cylinder pair 3, 4 and cylinder pair 3', 4'. Strands 7, 8 are then tightened over rollers 20 and feed tubes 14, 15 from reels 16, 17. When the strand drawing-out and guide device strikes laying hook 44, fork 28, 19 push against closing arm 44' and force laying hook 44 into the closed position as seen in FIG. 9. Hook 44 then catches the strand loops 7, 8 which are guided between closing tongues 46 and holds them fast.

Clamping pistons 6 of the first pair of roving cylinders 3, 4 are now closed. Guide trolley 24 travels a set distance back from laying hook 44. Laying trolley 25 with laying hook 44 stretches the strand loops 7, 8 by means of the weight on rope 39 (FIG. 1). Shears 21 now cut strands 7, 7 near the first pair of roving cylinders 3, 4 and leave a projecting strand end 7", 8" at feed tubes 14, 15. Motor 1 now starts up and drives roving cylinders 3, 4 and 3', 4 through gear 2. Because of the shortening of strands 7, 8 taking place during roving, laying trolley 25 is pulled forwards against the action of rope 39, until by means of a stop, it reaches the set strand hardness. At the moment when the hardness of the strand is reached, motor 41 of the laying trolley is switched in. Laying hook 44 commences to rotate. Guide trolley 24 at once travels up to the roving cylinders in its initial position. During rotation of laying hook 44, the laying trolley slowly moves forwards. The desired hardness of the cord is obtained by the laying trolley contacting a pre-set stop 45, and motor 41 of the laying trolley stops. At the same time, laying hook 44 and clamping devices 6 of roving cylinders 3, 4 and 3, 4 are opened, and the finished cord falls down into the receiving basket. immediately, the second run for another cord begins.

The machine described is completed by electromagnetic controls, limit switches, stops as well as pneumatic or hydraulic driving units for fully automatic operation, when the finished cords fall down into a receiving basket after the laying process, by opening of the strand clamping members of the roving cylinders and the laying hook.

I claim:

1. A machine, for the manufacture of cords and ropes, comprising motor-driven roving cylinders, strand clamps for said cylinders, a strand conveyor with strand feeders for feeding said cylinders, a travelling guide trolley having means for feeding strands drawn out from said roving cylinders in lengthwise loops and combining them with a rotating laying device of a laying trolley which is continuously under the effect of a tension device, said tension device being adapted to be drawn forward during the laying process by the entry of the strands or cords up to adjustable stops which determine the hardness of the strand or cord, whereby the cord can be manufactured entirely automatically with simultaneous determination of hardness and length.

2. A machine, according to claim 1, wherein said strand clamps and strand conveyors are automatic, and a roving device formed by said cylinders and comprising strand cutters which operate automatically, and wherein said guide trolley is movable on rails and wherein said laying device is a rotating hook arranged on said laying trolley.

3. A machine according to claim 2, comprising electromagnetic controls, limit switches, stops and pneumatic or hydraulic driving units for fully automatic operation, and wherein the finished cords fall down into a receiving basket after the laying process by opening of said strand clamps of said roving cylinders and said laying hook.

4. A machine according to claim 3, comprising two pairs of said roving cylinders driven by a motor through a gear, said cylinders being provided with receiving eyes and said strand clamps for leading in or holding the strands, and which permit the entry of said strand feed tubes controlled by a cylinder-piston assembly, and from which the ends of the strands project for the purpose of clamping fast in the second pair of roving cylinders.

5. A machine, according to claim 4, wherein the guide trolley carries a strand drawing-out and guide device which is held ready in the initial position of the guide trolley between the pairs of roving cylinders behind the eyes of the latter or in the range of the strands led through by said eyes, said guide trolley being moved and controlled by a motor and an endless chain along rails.

6. A machine, according to claim 5, comprising strand cutting shears mounted between the first roving cylinder pair and the openings of the strand feed tubes.

uous tension during the roving and laying processes. 

1. A machine, for the manufacture of cords and ropes, comprising motor-driven roving cylinders, strand clamps for said cylinders, a strand conveyor with strand feeders for feeding said cylinders, a travelling guide trolley having means for feeding strands drawn out from said roving cylinders in lengthwise loops and combining them with a rotating laying device of a laying trolley which is continuously under the effect of a tension device, said tension device being adapted to be drawn forward during the laying process by the entry of the strands or cords up to adjustable stops which determine the hardness of the strand or cord, whereby the cord can be manufactured entirely automatically with simultaneous determination of hardness and length.
 2. A machine, according to claim 1, wherein said strand clamps and strand conveyors are automatic, and a roving device formed by said cylinders and comprising strand cutters which operate automatically, and wherein said guide trolley is movable on rails and wherein said laying device is a rotating hook arranged on said laying trolley.
 3. A machine according to claim 2, comprising electromagnetic controls, limit switches, stops and pneumatic or hydraulic driving units for fully automatic operation, and wherein the finished cords fall down into a receiving basket after the laying process by opening of said strand clamps of said roving cylinders and said laying hook.
 4. A machine according to claim 3, comprising two pairs of said roving cylinders driven by a motor through a gear, said cylinders being provided with receiving eyes and said strand clamps for leading in or holding the strands, and which permit the entry of said strand feed tubes controlled by a cylinder-piston assembly, and from which the ends of the strands project for the purpose of clamping fast in the second pair of roving cylinders.
 5. A machine, according to claim 4, wherein the guide trolley carries a strand drawing-out and guide device which is held ready in the initial position of the guide trolley between the pairs of roving cylinders behind the eYes of the latter or in the range of the strands led through by said eyes, said guide trolley being moved and controlled by a motor and an endless chain along rails.
 6. A machine, according to claim 5, comprising strand cutting shears mounted between the first roving cylinder pair and the openings of the strand feed tubes.
 7. A machine, according to claim 6, comprising two closing tongues to the laying hook arranged above one another through said eyes for engagement of the hook, and which ensure secure transfer of the strand loops upon entry between the bifurcation of the strand drawing-out and guide device, as well as certain release thereof upon opening of the laying hook.
 8. A machine, according to claim 7, wherein said laying trolley is under the tension effect of a weight-loaded rope, so that the strand loops can be held under continuous tension during the roving and laying processes. 